The Northern War. The Fleet of Peter I

The events of the first quarter of the 18th century became a turning point in the history of the Russian state and all of Europe, which changed the fate of the countries and peoples of the continent for many generations to come. The Northern War of 1700–1721, or as it is called in foreign historical literature, the Great Northern War, fundamentally influenced the distribution of political power. In the long historical epic of Russia's resistance to all aggressors who periodically tried to subjugate it to their will, the catastrophic defeat of the Swedish invaders rightfully took one of the most prominent places. It was a time when our country, through the tremendous efforts of the entire nation, took its place among the most powerful world powers. "There was that troubled time, When young Russia, In the struggles tightening her strength, Matched with the genius of Peter" (A. S. Pushkin). E. V. Tarle's book on the Northern War became his final monumental work, and it achieved a level of professionalism that no contemporary historian has reached. From the scholar's pen came a comprehensive study of the dazzling victory of the Russian army at Poltava and the events that preceded it. Tarle managed to thoroughly illuminate both the military actions of the Russian troops on various fronts of the war and the efforts of Russian diplomacy during this period. The book also described the events leading up to the invasion and the final stages of the war up to the Treaty of Nystad. Events in Russia were presented in close connection with what was happening in Sweden, Poland, and other countries, how armies, commanders, and diplomats from various interested nations secretly and openly waged war, how the tactics and strategies of the opposing sides changed, and how peace negotiations took place. Finally, with what efforts did Peter the Great create not only a new army and fleet that surpassed the best army in Europe—the Swedish one—but also the Russian Empire itself.